The XRP community has been eagerly awaiting the release of William Hinman’s emails related to his 2018 cryptocurrency speech, and now, prominent pro-XRP attorney John Deaton and Ripple’s CTO, David Schwartz, have shared their belief that the unsealing of these documents is inevitable, regardless of whether the SEC settles with Ripple.
This revelation came during a discussion initiated by a well-known figure in the XRP community and crypto detective, Mr. Huber. Deaton and Schwartz both agreed that the authority to keep the emails confidential does not lie with Ripple, as Judge Analisa Torres had previously ruled that the emails and drafts from the former director of SEC’s Corporation Finance, Hinman, are judicial documents.
Judge Torres’ decision to deny the SEC’s motion to seal the emails and drafts generated considerable buzz within the XRP community. Despite this ruling, some XRP enthusiasts had speculated that a settlement between Ripple and the SEC might not define the release of these documents.
Following a tweet by Mr. Huber, John Deaton supported Schwartz’s stance and noted that unsealing Hinman’s emails would proceed regardless of whether Ripple settles with the SEC. Deaton furthermore explained that a motion filed by Forbes Contributor, Roslyn Layton, to obtain Hinman’s emails was arguable since the documents were already scheduled for unsealing.
Deaton anticipated that other media outlets and litigants, including parties like Dragonchain, would file their motions to access the documents. Despite Judge Torres’ denial of Layton’s and other media outlets’ requests, Deaton remained confident that these parties would ultimately gain access to Hinman’s emails.
If the SEC settles with Ripple and agrees to keep the emails private, Judge Torres might revisit Layton’s motion. However, given the judge’s previous ruling and Deaton’s confidence that other parties will apply for access, it seems likely that the emails will eventually be made public.
As the XRP community eagerly awaits the unsealing of Hinman’s emails, the agreement between Deaton and Ripple’s CTO has added another layer of anticipation and intrigue to the ongoing legal proceedings. It remains to be seen what the emails will reveal and how they will impact Ripple’s ongoing battle with the SEC.
